Mission X: Nnadozie Spares Super Falcons Blushes in 0-0 draw with Portugal

Reigning Africa’s best goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie put in a stellar shift for the Nigeria Women’s National Football Team on Monday, June 23, 2025, in a pre-WAFCON friendly game against Portugal in Lisbon which ended in a barren draw.

The nine-time African champions, aiming for a 10th title, began the encounter looking far from their best, being sloppy in possession, which saw the Portuguese side advance on the attack, only to be met by the safe hands of Nnadozie.

The first five minutes of action saw both sides attempt to size each other up, but in the sixth minute, a back pass from Christy Ucheibe allowed Diana Silva access into Nigeria’s 18, but her shot spurned the ball away from goal. In the ninth minute, Nnadozie plucked the ball out of the air from a pull-out.

At the other end, the experienced Francisca Ordega cut into the box and found captain Rasheedat Ajibade, whose smart turn and shot nearly wrong-footed goalkeeper Ines Pereira. Nnadozie pulled off another epic save in the 24th minute, and as the home girls launched onslaught after onslaught, only Nnadozie’s heroics and stonewall defending by Madugu’s side kept the scoreline even. Just before half time, Nigeria came close to taking the lead against the run of play, but Rinsola Babajide overhit the ball from an opportunity that presented itself after Ordega had been foiled with a last-ditch effort.I

n the second half, Africa’s number one pulled off three world-class saves within a space of four minutes, denying the dangerous Jessica Silva, Fatima Pinto and Andreia Norton.

The addition of Ifeoma Onumonu, Ashleigh Plumptre and Halimatu Ayinde rejuvenated Nigeria’s game, and as the Falcons took control, Ordega’s brilliant move and pass into the box in the 64th minute went begging.

The Falcons revved the engine to dominate the final 20 minutes, during which the vibrant Ordega rattled the crossbar from distance and Onumonu just fell short of squaring past the goalkeeper from another inspired Ordega cross.

In the end, the Super Falcons woke up and gave a good account of themselves, and left the Portuguese fans stunned with a decent outing at the Estádio José Gomes.

The Nigerian contingent will depart from Lisbon for Casablanca on Wednesday, where they will take on Ghana’s Black Queens in another friendly match on Sunday, June 29, 2025.

Their first match of the 13th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations comes up on Sunday, July 6, 2025, against Tunisia in Casablanca.